Category: Asia-Pacific
Coverage of geopolitics, international relations, and current affairs from across Asia-Pacific, including China, India, Southeast Asia, and Pacific nations, with a focus on security, trade, and regional diplomacy.
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The United States, Australia and the Philippines have conducted joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea, amid ongoing tensions with China over disputed waters in a show of strengthened trilateral defence cooperation in 2026. According to the Philippine military, the four-day drills from 9–12 April involved warships, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft in coordinated…
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China has signalled a limited easing of cross-strait restrictions following talks between Cheng Li-wun, senior figure in Taiwan’s Kuomintang (KMT), and President Xi Jinping. Beijing said it is open to resuming selected exchanges with Taiwan, including direct flights, tourism, media access, and food trade, after years of curtailed engagement with Taipei’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led…
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said ties with Beijing have reached “new heights” following talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Pyongyang, signalling renewed momentum in bilateral relations. During Wang’s first visit since 2019, both sides pledged to strengthen strategic coordination, expand cooperation, and reinforce long-standing political ties. Wang conveyed greetings from President Xi…
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India is experiencing a gradual “reverse brain drain”, as skilled professionals return amid expanding domestic opportunities. Once a leading exporter of talent, the country is now attracting returnees through its startup ecosystem, digital economy, and growing demand in emerging sectors. Entrepreneurs such as Shambhavi Gupta, founder of Nine Spot Seven, reflect this shift, citing India’s…
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China’s President Xi Jinping told visiting Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun that unification with the mainland is a “historical inevitability”, while warning against any moves towards independence in the first such meeting in a decade. Xi called for broader political co-operation across Taiwan’s parties, stating that closer cross-strait ties would continue despite global changes. Cheng…
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Singapore and Australia have agreed to fast-track negotiations on a legally binding protocol covering economic resilience and essential supplies under their existing free trade agreement. At a joint press conference, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasised strengthening trusted supply chains across critical sectors, including energy. • Australia supplies over one-third of…
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During a visit to the 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense & Strike at Mandai Hill Camp on Thursday (9 April), Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasised Singapore’s need to prepare for a world “where the global order is coming apart,” warning of “more disorder, more conflicts, more fighting around the world in the years ahead.” Wong noted…
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Australia and Japan are intensifying defense-industrial collaboration, focusing on the joint development and production of long-range missiles and drones, Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles announced. The move comes amid pressure on U.S. weapon stockpiles due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Marles, also Australia’s deputy prime minister, highlighted the need for co-production and…
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Taiwan’s opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), has called for renewed cross-strait dialogue during a visit to mainland China, amid heightened tensions in 2026. Speaking in Nanjing, Cheng invoked the legacy of Sun Yat-sen, emphasising “equality, inclusiveness, and unity” as principles for improving relations between Taiwan and Beijing. She described the trip…
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Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry described recent peace talks with Pakistan in Urumqi, China as constructive, following weeks of deadly cross-border clashes. The talks, which began on April 1 under Beijing’s invitation, aim to end fighting that erupted in February, displacing tens of thousands. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met China’s ambassador to thank Beijing and other…
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